Derby County travel to Portman Road to take on rock-bottom Ipswich Town this evening with both teams needing the points for their respective objectives this year.

The Rams are seventh in the table and could head back into the top-six with a win over the Championship’s bottom side.

Paul Lambert’s mean, meanwhile, are a wounded animal after last Sunday’s derby demolition against Norwich City.

The Rams have not completed a league double over their hosts this evening since the 1986/87 campaign and will be looking to eclipse that feat this evening.

Ipswich, meanwhile, have lost each of their last four matches at Portman Road against their visitors since their previous win over the Rams in 2014.

Frank Lampard’s men are unbeaten in three and have three wins in their last six matches, too.

Lambert’s charges have won in in their last six, by comparison, losing five – with each of their last four matches ending in defeat.

Ahead of the match this evening, Sky Sports offered some early team news from both camps.

Freddie Sears is a long-term absentee having picked up a cruciate injury, meaning he will be sidelined for at least nine months.

The striker suffered it in the defeat to Norwich at the weekend and will be out for the foreseeable future.

Luke Chambers faces a late test to prove his fitness having had a foot issue, while Colin Quaner is in line for a return after overcoming a hamstring injury.

Gwion Edwards is also a possible addition to the side having stepped up his comeback from a groin injury in recent days.

James Collins (hamstring) remains unavailable, along with Jack Lankester (back) and Emyr Huws (knee). Ben Folami (Achilles) and Grant Ward (cruciate) are both long-term absentees.

To the Rams, Jack Marriott and Tom Lawrence are thought to be fit and available having travelled to Suffolk for the match.

Scott Carson (thigh strain) and Mason Mount (hamstring) will both miss out on this evening’s meeting with Ipswich with their respective injuries.

The verdict

It is excellent news Derby will have Marriott and Lawrence back, but not so much for Ipswich who will have to do all they can to keep the pair quiet.

For Lambert’s men meanwhile, with the news of Sears’ injury amongst a plethora of players in the treatment room, it looks as if things are conspiring against the league’s bottom side.

It will be a tough ask for Ipswich to get any kind of result, but stranger things have happened.